How I spent my birthday: Kidnapped by a psychotic medic who's family was murdered by mine, tortured by electrocution, nearly dying by Jun who turned out not to be Jun, and walking through the shit that flowed under the city just to climb out near the coffee shop that Kya worked at. Terrific. Not only did I smell like the scum of Republic City, I looked like them to.

I was wanted by many people, and I would bet all my yuan's that they all wanted me dead. Good thing I didn't have any.

I didn't bother saying "hi" to Kya or at least not with the way I looked. I would go and see her but right after a hot shower and a change of clothes. I could still feel the electricity passing through my veins and I didn't know how a shower would turn out.

I felt like one big lighting rod.

I made my way to the compound, most of my worries were still on Ruan and hoping he had survived Mao's attack. My hand touched the knob to Ruan's apartment like a magnet, but I couldn't open it. I was to nervous to see what had become of him and I just couldn't bring myself to open it.

C'mon just do it! I said to myself. An uneasiness nested itself within my stomach, and my palm began to sweat. Not always a good omen. Opening the door, I peaked in. My heart jumped, as no one was in Ruan's bed.

I ran inside, searching to make sure my eyes hadn't played a cruel joke on me. Was he dead, had he been already buried? Being in a sort of a hysterical state, I searched everywhere. Even places where he wouldn't have been; like under the bed, the bathroom, and even under the table. Which had been completely useless because the table was basically a plank of wood with four legs on it and could be completely seen from the doorway.

Assuming the worst was not an option for me. I couldn't fight on with John, knowing my best friend was viciously murdered by a man who can shoot explosions from his body, as ridiculous as it sounds. I won't be able to accept that fact. I wouldn't. I ended my search at the fridge, not looking but just hungry.

"If your looking for me Khai, I wouldn't be able to fit in there. Oh, and we're out of cactus juice."

I turned around. Ruan was leaning against the door. He was wearing his old fashioned sand tribe outfit, which he wore all the time down in The Pits and Kyoshi. Aside from the bruises and scars, he was relatively healthy.

"You son of a bitch, your alive!" I said. A great load had been lifted off my chest. The worried feeling I had been feeling since day one of the attack was finally over.

"Yea not being dead does that to a guy." Ruan said. Yep he was alive all right, him and his stupid jokes. Ruan walked with a slight limp, but still he was alive, and that all that mattered. I walked over to him and after a quick fist bump, we caught up.

"Damn man, you really took out a member of The Pride?" Ruan asked.

"Yea, well more or less. He kinda led himself to his own downfall. He was a drinker and the rest is a more of a complicate story." I replied.

Ruan tried not to make his limp noticeable but utterly failed. I thought he had tripped onto his bed but he tried to play it off like he hopped into bed.

"So, Avatar Korra healed you up pretty good huh? I'm guessing she had to split when she was working on your leg." I said. Ruan grinned, pulling his arms behind his head and resting back.

"So you caught that huh?"

"Well your either drunk or your legs messed up. I'm gunna have to go with choice B with this one."

Ruan let out a quick laugh.

"Hey listen man, I got to get some sleep. Prescribed by one of John's medic's." Ruan said.

"Would you like a bed time story?" I sarcastically replied.

"Fuck off man." He said.

After that I left him alone. I would have like to have caught up with him more, seems like I haven't seen him in months, but he did need rest.

I slapped my hand against my forehead, I had forgotten to warn John about what I've encountered. I hiked up the staircase and pounded my fist on his door, hoping he was still here.

The door yanked opened and there stood John, fully armored up, as if going off to another war. He wasn't alone. There stood other member of his team that I knew to be Sergeant Dayton Bagg. However there had been another kid, around 17-18, that he hadn't seen. He wore dark and light eye liner, and was dressed as one of John's men, so I assumed he was with them. John look at my horrific clothing, that I had been wearing ever since I been in that fight with Jun.

My shirt was stained, and ripped. Parts of my jeans were burned and torn. Not to mention the blood stains that soaked my clothes and it all came with the the shit that coated my pants around my ankles, from walking in the sewers.

"You look like shit." John said.

"Nice to see you to." I responded sarcastically. I cracked a tiny grin.

My attention was brought back to the newest member of his gang. There was possibly even more I hadn't known about.

Asshole, how many of his people does he plan on bringing to my planet? I thought.

"What's up buttercup, we're sorta busy here." He said.

"Where are you going? No, forget it, John there's something you need to know about the Equalists."

I could tell John's mind was busy on something else. He nudged his way past me, followed by Dayton and the unknown man who followed silently. I stuck out an arm in front of John, it was better he'd know now.

"Fine, what it is?" asked John.

"Well there's more to the story for what I've been through but I'll make it short."

"Hope ya do bud, now what's goin' on?" John said.

"First of all, Amon had created a new type of Equalist soldier. Jun calls it a MES, Mechanized Equalist Soldier, is now the main supply unit for the Equalist party. It's an heavily armored soldier that's armor is probably equivalent to your men, maybe a bit more troublesome! I'm not sure how he did it but I fought one and well.. actions speak louder then words." I said staring blankly down at what was left of my clothing.

"Damn right they do. Listen Khai, I'm pressured on time and I got plans, I want to hear more about this later as does Director Makarov." John replied. After shutting his door he said goodbye to me and started down the stairs.

"Director Makarov?" I called out. I knew him to be just a soldier with John but never a director.

"Later Khai!" He called back.

I shook my head but I forgot it quickly. John and I had our shit to deal with and I couldn't understand when we were busy, but I'll be fine. We needed to do what was needed to be done and right now I needed food in my belly, a nice warm shower, and one hell of a nap.

The Pride

Chen and Kenten had been practicing with the weapon that was discovered on the cargo ship, they now controlled not only their own bending but an additional source of electricity.

With a slight tweaking, thanks to Sento, the stun gauntlet now shot out lighting bolts rather then its original stun on touch. They practiced above their sanctuary on the large boulders that hid their base, even though it was under ground. After a quick bolt of lighting from Chen's gun, he launched two slabs of stone into the rock, impaling it instantly.

"Damn. Ya know, I usually bend with my mind but hell, I could get used to this." Chen said cheerfully blasted out a huge portion of the rock. Debris flew everywhere, nearly hitting the backside of the bar.

"Agreed, we can do some serious damage with these things. That Khai kid we're after won't know what hits him." Kenten said.

Smaller chunks of rock flew out of the bolder this time as Kenten shot away with the lightning.

"Why are we killing this kid again? Is he really that important to kill a younger Equalist while the Amon and the rest of the Equalists are still at play here? Just seems to be a drag to me, don't know what Jun want's with this guy but it must be bad if he's constantly sending us." Kenten said.

They both were silenced by the sound of a rough grinding noise. The sound of the sanctuary tunnel eroding from the ground had alerted them but surprised them when Monna had stepped out.

"What goes on?" Chen said casually.

"Jun goes on." She replied.

"About Khai?" Asked Kenten.

Monna nodded.

"What the hell is with this guy? I even heard his name on Television from time to time, didn't this guy run away?" Kenten asked.

"I don't know much about him but don't underestimate Jun's intention's. Not only is he the son of a high Equalist leader but he's killed one of ours. Kenten, I'd thought you'd be a little more surprised that he killed one of your kind?" Monna asked.

He shrugged. He hadn't really felt anything once he heard the news. After he joined up with The Pride, he sort of cut out all emotions from the outside world. So when he did hear the news of Kessen's death is had the effect on him like a knife hitting solid steel.

"He was cocky. He should've known better to go off a mission and get drunk with whatever he was doing." Kenten replied.

"Man, there goes my intentions of winning back my yuans. I was planning on cheating them off him." Chen remarked.

Ignoring Chen's remark, she spoke. "Well the thing is, we didn't send him anywhere. He went off on his own and we recieved no notice."

"And this is surprising to you why?" Kenten said crossing his arms. In the distant the sound of lighting bolts could be heard being fired off from Chen's glove.

Monna raised an arm and lowered the brown sleeve that made up of the traditional Pride robes. She had been wearing a stun gauntlet as well and it was sparking at the finger tips.

"Because now were going to hunt down his killer!"

Geming and Yu

"You wanted to see me." Yu said deeply.

They both were underground and inside Admiral Geming's quarters. Geming had been wearing his brown robes while Yu was wearing his. The metal strips that made up his spinal and neck brace ran up his spine and around his waist had been clearly showing from the outside of the robes.

Yu hadn't been a just a frail old man. He was strong and independent and could step up to anyone. He had stated that the brace that had made him stronger was just a way to reverse his youthful days.

Before he came to Republic City he had been in Ba Sing Ce, where he lived out his life as a champion in the famous Earth Kingdom arena, Earth Rumble 6. After the fire nation invaded he fled, unable to live under fire bending tyranny.

"Yes. As we know those damn Equalists have found something big and that something now rests in our hands. or rather on them. I need you to do some high level recon and see what they're planning!." Geming ordered.

"What?", Yu asked.

"Basically I want you to spy, Amon will be having his famous.. or rather infamous Revelation speech and I need you to look into it."

Yu had a questionable look on his face, as he hadn't been expecting this type of assignment.

"Shouldn't Mao or one of the sand benders be doing this sort of thing?" Yu grumbled.

"Originally yes. However, they're some changes. Their all at working and you were the only one available. Plus I need your talents." Geming said.

Yu felt irritated, he really wasn't fit for stealth. He was more of the head on sort of bender, and he was damn good at it.

"Why don't you just send Sento, he'd do it?"

"Sento is busy tweaking the last bit of stun gauntlet's we have. Now I don't have to explain myself to you just do it! It's an order!" Geming barked.

Yu nodded and let out a deep sigh.

Yu had always been angry or rather mad at himself that somethings leaked out and affected the others around him. Unable to feel pain, he viewed himself as sub human. The ability to bend however in the famous earth kingdom tournament, Earth Rumble 6, was considered cheating for him as he could not feel the blows that was dealt to him as he dealt to others. When stone was to hit him, he come right back up as if blown back by a gust of wind.

He got tired at times, that was understandable but training without the ability to feel pain really pushed him to his limits and then some. He became stronger but it was also really risky.

He torn muscles and broke bones but unable to feel pain, lasted hours before he actually took notice. That said he often visited the doctors.

"Yes. Admiral Geming." He said. He got up, bowed to his superior and left.

Irritated as he was, he knew that Amon's revelation speech would be easy to find. Since Jun was secretly in league with the Equalists, he could tell him everything he needed to know about it's location. Usually, Geming would have ordered Yu to go meet with Jun and discuss the new details but lately Amon has been leaving Jun out of a lot of things. Now it's time to do things outside of clan regulations.

Later that day, Khai

I hadn't known how long I sat on this bench. All around me time seemed to speed up, and a was watching it from a slower point of view. Cars and people walked at incredible speeds yet, I sit here still on my first breath. It hadn't been whether or not I was sick nor hallucinating but I was taking it all in. The world as it was, The Pride, the soon to be Equalist civil war, and then there was my new family. They wanted me dead, and what could I say about it? Nothing.I would be lying if the thought of returning to the Equalists hadn't crossed my mind but my will power to suppress that thought was incredibly strong. I would never stoop that low.

After I had awoken from my glorious nap, I felt like taking a walk. That thought came and was pushed aside by another that encouraged me to shower first. I wore a short sleeve, black v-neck shirt. I also wore normal dark blue jeans and my new blue and white casual shoes.

Jun was still asleep and John had still been out so I decided to see if Kya was still wanting to hang out. I had my doubts that she wanted to because it had been getting late but then again that counter thought of "she probably wouldn't mind" came across and made me skeptical.

I sat in complete silence, others had sat next to me for a short while before getting picked up in a satomobile. My blade had rested in its sheath and its sling was tucked around my back, as it hadn't weird to be walking around without a weapon anymore. Although as much as people didn't trust one another, they wouldn't even acknowledge a 19 year old, with a sword.

"You goin' in or what bud?"

I hadn't been expecting a voice, no one had talked to me before. Well no one ever talked to anyone unless its a turf war between the gangs of Republic City, mainly the Triple Threats.

I looked around, standing behind a bench was tall dark figure. He wore a dark suit, with a black shirt underneath. He had white shoes and and shaggy brown hair. Scary thing was, it was like looking in a mirror. He had a faint resemblance of myself and I was actually pretty confused at the moment.

"Excuse me?" I asked, still recovering from my clone's appearance.

"Yea, ah kinda have on of those faces ya know? Strange and exactly the same, people offen' confuse me for someone else but hey, I guess I found out who they were relatin' to." He said.

I was still confused, who the hell was this guy and why does he look like me?, I thought. My faces gave off the most ominous look.

"Mind if ah joined ya bud?" He said, talking in a strange tone of voice.

"Well actually I.."

It didn't matter what the answer was, before I could get a sentence in he was over the bench. His suit nearly whipping me in the face as his hopped over. Getting comfortable his arms were already resting behind the bench, he inhaled a huge gust of air and let out a relaxed sigh. Still in complete confusion, I shifted down the bench, trying to avoid him and get my confidence to go in to see Kya.

"Well ya never answered mah question bud?" He said.

I looked over at him, sending him a blank stare, "I'm sorry, who are you?" I asked.

"That might have been a good choice to start off with, mah names Jay, Jay Niles, nice to finally see ya in person." Jay said.

He worried me now, someone with his resemblance of me, and hes heard of me? This guys a fucking nut. Not only was here creeping me out but he spoke with a detached accent, meaning he mixed up and shortened words which didn't always make you sound very smart. A lot of farmers in the Northern Fire Nation Colonies spoke like that, and I'd imagine they'd do that in other territories.

"Well if you must know I'm still thinking about going in... I'm sorry did you say you knew me?"

"Yep." Jay said with a sudden silence.

I looked at him as if he was going to add more to his statement but he sat staring in oblivion.

"Alright.. How?" I said, specifically finishing my sentence.

He looked at me with disappointing look, his eyes were of a very pale blue and were the only thing that told us apart.

"Nah bud, you gotta tell me when your goin' in to see her, Kya right?" Jay said.

My eyes filled with irritation, "Uh yea, how did you..?"

"Been in ther a couple a' times, talked to her to. She's real nice, pretty to. Saw you and her out walking around awhile back and thought ah leave ya alone, thought you two be goin' out by now but since your sitting here all by yourself, ah assume otherwise, am I correct bud?

I lowered my head and shook it slightly in annoyance, "You are correct." I admitted.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Why dont'cha go say hey?" Jay asked.

I'd thought if I'd tell him he'd be satisfied but with all the awkwardness that's going around, he'd probably just continue. Nevertheless, I had something that he wouldn't forget, something he said to me and I had been dying to use it against him.

"Nah bud, you gotta tell me how you heard about me first." I said in an arrogant slur.

He started to snicker, which turned into laughter after he rolled his head back. Other people who had been walking by had noticed us and starred in suspicion, then returned to their normal lives.

"Nice one bud, you got me. Ah saw you on the news, heard ya father talk about how much'a failure you were to him."

My hands slammed into my face, dragging them down, I let out a irritating groan. So that's how I was knows as? A failure? Even though I supported the bending society no one would believe me. Not in these time they wouldn't. Still, why would he approach me if so many people wanted absolutely nothing to do with me? Something about him was off, his speech was nowhere from around here, he approaches the social public enemy number one, and still he acts as if I'm a regular person.

I hadn't been an infamous person to most people. Some people knew I was here, while others had no idea. My face was on the news and I tried to stay out of the public. The police stayed away, after that little incident with Kessen, Chief Bei Fong ordered for other officers to ignore my presence here unless it became a problem. Jay kept looking both directions, as if looking for someone. Nobody walked passed anymore, strangely things got really quiet and we were the only ones on the sidewalk. In fact, we were the only ones on the street.

"So why are you here? Not to be rude but, I'm not really the social type." I said.

Jay looked back at me with a questionable look in his eyes. Soon enough the hand that rested close to me stretched out in a speed that I couldn't have seen coming. With his hand around my neck, I instantly felt what seemed to be hundreds of volts of electricity pass through my neck and throughout my body. I couldn't grunt, moan, or shout in pain at all, he had hit me so where my whole body had turned against me.

Releasing his grip I collapsed to the dirty city streets. I had been in a painful position, my head hanging off the curb while my whole body was hanging on. My face rested on the swampy metal, city gutter. All I could here was the deep evil laugh of my own twin, that and his footsteps coming closer to me.

He leaned down and put his mouth right next to my ear and whispered.

"They all want'a see ya dead bud. But am ah reasonable person, leave this fucking city, or die like the rat you are"

"Your in league with the Triads!"